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Introduction by Hayley Stewart (Eddleston)  

Good morning and welcome to our online service for Eddleston and Peebles Old Parish. We send you greetings wherever in the world you may be joining us in our worship. Our bells continue to ring out in lockdown, drawing us all together in Christ’s love and service.

Today, 28 February, is the Second Sunday in Lent and together we continue our Lenten journey to the Cross and the glorious Resurrection of Easter.

But it is to the Cross first - and this week’s service which is led by the Revd Pamela Strachan, is considering ‘The Challenge of the Cross’ - a challenge for us all.

We begin our worship with that great 18th Century hymn by Isaac Watts, sung by our own Parish choir, 'When I survey the wondrous cross'.

'The Pauper's Prayer ' (Peter Howson)

The 2nd Sunday in Lent

‘The Challenge of the Cross’

HYMN: When I survey the wondrous cross

PRAYER

Said by Rev Pamela Strachan

God of grace,
You reach out and draw alongside us -
as we face an uncertain future.
You offer hope and renewal in our lives when often we fear
we are failing in strength and purpose.

As we approach you now in worship,
May we remember that your grace and mercy are unlimited -
Poured out to sustain and strengthen us.

Merciful God,
You have made it known that “If we confess our sins,
He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

Hear us as we confess before You
and those who join us in worship
that we have sinned in what we have done
and what we have failed to do,
in our thoughts and with our words and deeds.

May we receive the forgiveness You promise
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

You give us a future with hope.
Help us to believe in that truth -
Reminded of Your promises,
may we live this day in the joy You bring,
worshipping You with all that is within us
and may we serve You as You deserve.

Help us Holy Spirit, so to do and be
that many may know the God
who, in Jesus, came among us
full of grace and truth.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

LESSON

 Read by Rev Charles Aitchison
Mark 8; 31-38

The way of the Cross
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be
rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he
must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter.
‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said, ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God,
but merely human concerns.’
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants
to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me
and for the gospel will save it.
What good is it for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? Or what can
you give in exchange for your soul? If any of you are ashamed of me and my
words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of
you when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.’
Thanks be to God for the reading of his Holy Word, Amen.

ADDRESS

Hymn: O sacred head

PRAYER

Said by Rev Pamela Strachan

Faithful God,
we thank You as you pour out your infinite mercy and grace
on us - your children.

The path Jesus took led to His being reviled and despised.

We are thankful that He never gave up,
nor allowed Himself to be diverted from His purpose.

Jesus remained true to His mission, proclaiming Your kingdom had come,
with good news for the poor, release for the captives,
recovery of sight for the blind and freedom for the oppressed.

From our hearts we thank You
for that infinite suffering, transformative love,
when on a cross with outstretched arms He embraced us all.

Thank You for the great hope we have
that will give us strength to accompany our Lord to Calvary

God of grace,
trusting in Your promises, confident of Your love,
we bring our prayers for others to You today.

We thank you for all who are labouring to distribute vaccinations
and to lead our country and the world out of the Covid-pandemic.

Let us remember all who suffer and in the silence of our hearts pray for them:

Those who are hungry, cold and anxious -
fearful of the future and longing to return to pre-Covid times.

We remember the sick and the bereaved, the young people
who fear they’re falling behind, the elderly who feel lonely and ache for
human contact.

As we bring our prayers to our merciful God, let us rest in the knowledge
that our cries are heard, that there is a balm in Gilead - and our wounds will be bound.

May we each day, take up our cross and follow our Blessed Lord
in whose name we offer these prayers,

AMEN.

HYMN: Take up thy Cross

THE BLESSING and DISMISSAL

Said by Rev Pamela Strachan

Your life lies hidden with Christ in God.
May you come to the full wealth of conviction
which understanding brings,
and grasp God’s secret, which is Christ himself,
in whom lie hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Go in peace.

And the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be with you all.
Amen.

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The images of Peter Howson’s work:
The Pauper’s Prayer
and The Cross
are used in this service with the artist’s permission.
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